HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUKIA-1day late by *comixqueen

“Today’s my birthday, y’know.” I prompted, glancing sideways at Ichigo as we made our way down the empty sidewalk.
“Is it?” he asked distractedly, adjusting the schoolbag slung on his shoulder. I frowned. Had the idiot actually forgotten? A sly thought occurred to me that made me smirk.
“M-hm. In the Soul Society I’d be getting tons of fancy gifts from people.” I said snidely, waiting to see Ichigo’s reaction. To my growing frustration, he merely checked his watch while saying: “Oh yeah? That sounds fun.”
Ichigo was pissing me off, and trying to be polite and subtle was pissing me off.
“And what are you going to give me?” I demanded.
“Congrats, I guess” he said before turning away from me and rummaging through his bag.
“That’s it?” I said incredulously, crossing my arms and scowling, but Ichigo soon distracted me.
“No” he said cheerfully (by Ichigo standards, I mean), then he carefully yet firmly shoved a white box into my hands.
I was so taken aback that I forgot I was supposed to be mad at the guy. I found myself examining the box inquisitively from various angles.
“What is it?” I thought aloud, bringing the box to my ear and preparing to give it a good rattling. Ichigo tensed and hurriedly stopped me.
“Don’t shake the stupid thing!” he said with panic-filled eyes. Quickly, Ichigo put his hands around the box (I pretended not to notice how his fingers brushed against mine) and pushed it down and away from my face. “Just open it, already!”
I looked curiously at the box once more and noticed that several tiny holes had been punched into the lid. I dismissed them as yet another human oddity and casually lifted the lid off. I froze.
Nestled inside the lower portion of the box was a quivering mass of snowy fluff. The strange thing seemed to flinch for a second, then it shifted and I found that a pair of bright black eyes were peering up at me. The eyes were followed by the appearance of a twitchy pink nose. Two long white ears emerged from the puffball, sticking straight up behind the eyes. The thing sat up, revealing tiny paws, and stretched its head towards me. A large paper label hung loosely from its little neck. I glimpsed “Chappy” scrawled on it and then my heart skipped a beat. It was a small, white rabbit!
“Happy birthday, Rukia.” I heard Ichigo say. Somehow, I knew he must be smiling.
I stared at the rabbit, then up at Ichigo (who was indeed smiling), then back to the rabbit, then at Ichigo again. Suddenly, realization clicked:
He knows I love rabbits, so he gave me one. On my birthday.
I felt overwhelmed with glee, and, for a second, my body seemed to move on its own….
Before I knew it, I had kissed him.
Apparently I had pounced on Ichigo and hugged him, pulling his face towards mine in the process (while holding the box upright in one hand) and kissed him squarely on the lips.
The moment I realized what I had done, I felt my face flush in embarrassment and I hurriedly looked away.
Somehow I dared to glance at Ichigo, and I saw him staring at me with surprise (and a blush that mirrored my own).
“‘Thanks’ would’ve been fine….” He muttered awkwardly.